Step 1: Know Your Character’s History. You need to develop your protagonist fully and completely. On one level, this means she should have a totally documented life, from birth to present. As the author, you should know nearly everything about her before you even begin: where she was born, where she went to school, the first time she fell in love, and more. I say nearly because more ideas and possibilities will crop up as you write the story. Old lovers, photographs from long-ago vacations and other detritus from the past can show up at any time to create conflict—or help the character in a moment of crisis.